SYRACUSE – Earlier this month, the Wawasee School Corporation held a bid opening for the Milford Elementary School project, one of the two projects currently underway within the corporation.
The bids were placed by pre-qualified contractors for the work and supply of materials for the construction of the new school.
The scope of work varies from bid package to bid package. Bids were placed for cast in place concrete; masonry; furnish and erect steel; general trades; roofing, flashing, sheet metal; aluminum framed entrances and storefronts, aluminum, windows, glazing; gyp board, steel stud framing, APC, acoustical wall treatment, painting; flooring and tiling; athletic wood flooring; food service equipment; fire suppression, plumbing and HVAC mechanics; electrical, communications, electronic safety and security; earthwork and utilities; bituminous paving; and fencing.
MKS won bid package 3a, cast in place concrete, for $2,798,000.
Demuyt won bid package 4a, masonry, for $2,987,000.
Evans Metals won bid package 5a, steel, for $1,027,116.70.
Gibson Lewis won bid package 7a, general trades, with its $2,899,000.
Rooflynx won bid package 7a, roofing and sheet metal, for $819,000.
Interstate Commercial Glass & Door won bid package 8b, aluminum and glazing, for $660,000.
Rosema Construction won bid package 8a, steel framing and wall treatment, for $916,000.
Jack Laurie won bid package 9b, flooring and tiling, for $419,550.
Kuhn Specialty Flooring won bid package 9c, wood athletic flooring, for $129,1000.
Singer Equipment won bid package 11a, food service equipment, for $702, 595.
VFP won bid package 21a, fire protection, for $327,941.
Core Mechanical won bid package 23a, plumbing and HVAC, for $4,921,386.
Kissinger Electric won bid package 26a, electrical, for $2,598,000.
G&G Hauling won bid package 31a, earthwork and utilities, for $2,322,182.
Brooks Construction won bid package 32a, bituminous paving and asphalt, for $702,930.
Gleave Fencing won bid package 32c, fencing, for $83,900.
With the acceptance of the phase one bids, the Milford Elementary School project total construction cost is $30,163,458.75. With various fees and insurances included, the total project comes to $34,111,742.75.
The board received a project update on the high school’s performing art center, the other project underway within the corporation, from Brian Wolf and Hannah Holtzapple, both of Garmann Miller. Ground was broken just after graduation, back in June.

    Julie Mishler was recognized at the Wawasee School Board meeting on Monday for her accomplishment of becoming a double national champion in swimming this summer. Mishler won the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke. She also participated in the Olympic trials. Pictured (L to R) are board members Don Bokhart, Mike Wilson, Andy Cripe; Mishler; board member Neil Likens; Wawasee Superintendent Dr. Steve Troyer and board member Steve Baut. Photo by Marissa Sweatland, InkFreeNews
  

“The last time we were here we had several months to go and today we are happy to report we now are down to just several days,” Wolf reported to the board. “This Thursday we will be finished with the documents so we will be going out to bid. Weigand Construction will be going out to bid. There will 20 to 22 bid packages.”
The bids will begin being solicited around Wednesday, Aug. 21 and a bid opening will be scheduled on or around Thursday, Sept. 19. The bids will then be brought to the board during the regular October meeting to approve.
The performing arts center is scheduled, and on track, for August 2026. The CTE renovations will begin shortly after in summer 2026 with completion in December 2026.
“We did complete phase one of the project, which did include some demolition and the construction of four new classrooms,” Dr. Stephen Troyer, superintendent, informed the board. “That went with shocking speed because they started right after school got out for the summer and the classrooms are ready today.”
Both projects are slowly, but surely, coming to fruition.
In other good news, the school board honored Wawasee soon-to-be senior Julie Mishler, who finished as a double national champion in swimming this summer. Mishler won the 50 freestyle and the 100 backstroke. She placed sixth in the 100 freestyle. Mishler was a participant in the Olympic trials after qualifying in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke.
Jim Best, although not in attendance, was also honored. Best served as the director of transportation for three years before his retirement at the end of this week. He also coached boys basketball for many seasons.
North Webster Elementary School was awarded a “Little Bit of Luck Grant.” The $2,975 will go toward purchasing xylophones for the music room.
Ace Hardware of North Webster donated $1,200 to WHS band.
WDC Properties donated $400 to WHS athletics.
The Wawasee Alumni Association donated $15,000 to WHS Athletics to provide Green and Gold all-sports pass to all Wawasee High School athletic events for students in ninth to 12th grade. The funds were raised through the association’s inaugural Green and Gold Gala, which was held in the spring.
The next regular school board meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 10 in the Professional Learning Center, 801 S. Sycamore St., Syracuse.